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Thanks fdegrove. I'm actually now stuck between two Ultimates: the one with DA Di2 and the one with SR EPS. Never really thought about it before but that unsightly battery pack is rather annoying. The other thing is that the Di2 version ships 6 weeks sooner. and while I'm not that price sensitive given that I'm spending an arm and a leg either way, at £500 cheaper, the Di2 means I've got some extra cash to spend on another wheelset.

I could be wrong but I think a lot of the pro's were riding the AL frame because they didnt like the long head tubes on the CF slx frames. Canyon probably made some custom made for each rider, well at least for Gilbert.

I feel that the fork on my Ultimate gives a lot of damping.. and my bars are not the stiffest out there, however I'm very comfortable with the stiffness of the bike/frame, I've never felt the stiffness as a con.

I feel that the fork on my Ultimate gives a lot of damping.. and my bars are not the stiffest out there, however I'm very comfortable with the stiffness of the bike/frame, I've never felt the stiffness as a con.

There have been comments that the forks, particularly with the oversize steerer, do not have enough 'give' in them for a comfortable ride and too much vibration is felt leading to a jarring ride when the roads get rough.

Personally, I can't say I've found that and I ride in the UK where it seems roads aren't complete without the obligatory potholes and bone-rattling surface. I guess if you had a stiff cockpit and slim bar tape too and rode without gloves then it could be more apparent.

Considering the fact that 1. CF SLX is out out my budget most likely (waiting to see how the frame goes for)2. The Aeroad is not really an aero road bike. It just have smaller front end and somewhat aero looking tube. In this regard, it could probably be classified as normal road bike just like the Ultimate CF/SLX. It even tests worse aerodynamically than the CF I believe.

Would you then recommend the Ultimate CF over the Aeroad or the other way round? The Ultimate CF seems to be a workhorse that receive universal praise. The Aeroad seems to do just fine, too. I prefer the look of Aeroad, but I haven't got chance to tried either of them since Canyon doesn't have showroom.

I ride generally on a rolling terrain, with really low and long hills. Most of the road is flat and I don't plan to climb anytime soon. I like to go low and like a not too harsh bike though am sure that can be fixed with nice tires and saddle.

I really dig Canyon, love the price, and will choose between these two ultimately.

Gilbert won his first Lombardia on the custom AL as well. I was there, it was poetry in motion

I've had an Ultimate CF and now and Ultimate CF SLX. I like the Aeroad but the geometry was better for me on the Ultimate. I've never found the front end too harsh, but I ride either on tubs or tubeless at 90 psi w/ steel spokes on both so I'm sure that aids in comfort. I also always use a thin tape (Fizik) and like more feedback.

edit- I also ride had an Isaac Sonic that I rode w/ the same wheel combos and found that a slight bit harsher fwiw.

ultyguy wrote:I've had an Ultimate CF and now and Ultimate CF SLX. I like the Aeroad but the geometry was better for me on the Ultimate. I've never found the front end too harsh, but I ride either on tubs or tubeless at 90 psi w/ steel spokes on both so I'm sure that aids in comfort. I also always use a thin tape (Fizik) and like more feedback.

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I much prefer the old (2012 and prior) geometry on the SLX/CF also. I like the steeper seatube and am happy to run a 130mm -17 stem and no spacers to get reasonably low at the front.

Front end can be sorted out as you say with teh right wheels and tyres/pressure. Then it's a beast.

Don't like the square downtube on the new model either ... had that with a 2010 TCR I had and hated it. Like pushing a fridge-freezer through the air.